Yesterday we heard from Mr. Co-op himself declare that the public option is dead.This is coming from a guy who represents North Dakota, a state with a population of 641,000. You can't make this stuff us.
Our message to Kent, Rahm, Secretary Sebelius, even President Obama, and all those who think they can play us for damn fools, Not. So. Fast.
To those who are depressed and say they are out of hope, I tell them, the fight has only just begun. Giving up now, is exactly what then enemy is counting on.
But fuck Kent Conrad, what I believe we're seeing is what's known in Washington as a trial balloon. That is, the White House wants to gauge exactly the depth of support for a public option. Are we going to let Kent Conrad, a moron Senator who is in bed with the insurance industry, and is elected by a state of 641,000 citizens, control the message and dictate what's dead and what's alive? I think not.
We're not about to roll over for any Democrat who dares to side with the insurance industry against the dire and desperate health care needs of the American people.
If you want to understand why co-ops are an absolute non-starter, I urge you to read this fine diary by BenGoshi, Co-ops: Rife with Corruption, Mismgt, Criminality.
Is support for real reform, an inch deep and a mile wide, or a mile deep with support that spreads across the length and breadth of the nation?
LET'S SHOW THEM TODAY, SHALL WE!
I'VE BEEN ADVISED BY THE STRATEGISTS, INCLUDING JANE HAMSHER, THAT ALTHOUGH CALLING THE WHITE HOUSE FEELS GOOD, IT'S MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON CALLS AND EMAILS TO CONGRESSPEOPLE. SO PLEASE, PLEASE MAKE YOUR PRIORITY THE LONG LIST OF CONGRESSPEOPLE WHO MUST HOLD THE LINE FOR THE PUBLIC OPTION.
Call and email the White House TODAY at 202-456-1111 and at 202-456-1414
I'm also going to ask you to call and email the DNC (Democratic National Committee), and tell them, not a fucking nickel, if the public option get tossed under the bus.
DNC Main Phone Number:
202-863-8000
(For questions about contributions, please call 877-336-7200)
To contact the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, click here.
To contact the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, click here.
So we must act, every single person. And here's the push back:
- This week we're going to be pushing back against the "public plan is dead" messaging coming out of the White House by reminding everyone that we have 64 members who have said they will vote against a bill that doesn't have a public plan (combine the 57 members who signed the July 30 letter with the 7 who took our pledge that didn't sign it = 64). At the suggestion of Donna Edwards and Darcy Burner, we're going to start congratulating them for standing strong on the public plan and pushing it into their districts.Again Jane Hamsher, tells all who think they can kill the public option, not so fast, and she does so brilliantly.
Remember these are the members whosigned the July 30th letter to Speaker and said they wont vote for a bill which does not have a public plan.
- Call these members, thank them, yes, thank them and and make sure they intend to honor this committment.
First, the members who signed the letter to Speaker Pelosi:
Earl Blumenauer (D-OR)- 202-225-4811
Corrine Brown (D-FL)- 202-225-0123
Michael Capuano (D-MA)- 202-225-5111
André Carson (D-IN)- 202-225-4011
Judy Chu (D-CA)- 202-225-5467
Yvette Clarke (D-NY)- 202-225-6231
William "Lacy" Clay (D-MO)- 202-225-2406
John Conyers (D-MI)- 202-225-5126
Elijah Cummings (D-MD)- 202-225-4741
Bill Delahunt (D-MA)- 202-225-3111
Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)- 202-225- 4865
Donna Edwards (D-MD)- 202-225-8699
Keith Ellison (D-MN)- 202-225-4755
Sam Farr (D-CA)- 202-225-2861
Chaka Fattah (D-PA)- 202-225-4001
Bob Filner (D-CA)- 202-225-8045
Marcia Fudge (D-OH1)- 202-225-7032
Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)- 202-225-2435
Luis Gutierrez (D-IL)- 202-225-8203
Phil Hare (D-IL)- 202-225-5905
Alcee Hastings (D-FL)- 202-225-1313
Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)- 202-225-6335
Mazie Hirono (D-HI)- 202-225-4906
Michael Honda (D-CA)- 202-225-2631
Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)- 202-225-3816
Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)- 202-225-8885
Hank Johnson (D-GA)- 202-225-1605
Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)- 202-225-4146
Carolyn Kilpatrick (D-MI)- 202-225-2261
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH)- 202-225-5871
Barbara Lee (D-CA)- 202-225-2661
Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX)- 202-225-3816
Eric Massa (D-NY)- 202-225-3161
Jim McDermott (D-WA)- 202-225-3106
James McGovern (D-MA)- 202-225-6101
Gwen Moore (D-WI)- 202-225-4572
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)- 202-225-5635
Grace Napolitano (D-CA)- 202-225-5256
John Olver (D-MA)- 202-225-5335
Bill Pascrell (D-NJ)- 202-225-5751
Donald Payne (D-NJ)- 202-225-3436
Chellie Pingree (D-ME)- 202-225-6116
Laura Richarson (D-CA)- 202-225-7924
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)- 202-225-1766
Linda Sánchez (D-CA)- 202-225-6676
José Serrano (D-NY)- 202-225-4361
Albio Sires (D-NJ)- 202-225-7919
Jackie Speier (D-CA)- 202-225-3531
Pete Stark (D-CA)- 202-225-5065
Bennie Thompson (D-MS)- 202-225-5876
John Tierney (D-MA)- 202-225-8020
Ed Towns (D-NY)- 202-225-5936
Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)- 202-225-2361
Maxine Waters (D-CA)- 202-225-2201
Diane Watson (D-CA)- 202-225-7084
Mel Watt (D-NC)- 202-225-1510
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)- 202-225-5161
And these are the members who are credibly onboard with the FDL Pledge:
Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)- 202-225-4535
Pete DeFazio (D-OR)- 202-225-6416
Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)- 202-225- 4865
Donna Edwards (D-MD)- 202-225-8699
Keith Ellison (D-MN)- 202-225-4755
Bob Filner (D-CA)- 202-225-8045
Barney Frank (D-MA)- 202-225-5931
Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ)- 202-225-2435
Phil Hare (D-IL)- 202-225-5905
Rush Holt (D-NJ)- 202-225-5801
Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)- 202-225-7944
Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)- 202-225-5635
Chellie Pingree (D-ME)- 202-225-6116
Maxine Waters (D-CA)- 202-225-2201
Robert Wexler (D-FL)-202-225-3001
Lynn Woolsey (D-CA)- 202-225-5161
John Yarmuth (D-KY)- 202-225-5401
3.Use the FDL Action Event Tracker Tool and find the town halls near you and please go. Here is where I will be going, join me!
AND, AS ALWAYS, PLEASE SUPPORT OUR WORK
PLEASE DONATE WHATEVER YOU CAN. WE REALLY NEED YOUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT:
THERE ARE 22,OOO LOBBYISTS IN WASHINGTON DC.
Please help us continue this fight for the American people and against the FAKE PROTESTORS, THE MOB VIOLENCE, the insurance industry lobby and its August campaign of fear.
Lobbyists and wealthy Republican donors are spending $1.4 million a day to insure that healthcare reform dies. We rely on your generosity.
And this is me, with one lobbyist, there are 21,999 more, all fighting to maintain the status quo.
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